Hypothyroidism is a very common canine medical problem that that occurs most in medium to large breed dogs. The disease, which affects some breeds more than others, usually occurs in middle-aged dogs that are between the ages of four and ten years old.
Golden retrievers, Irish setters and Doberman pinchers are among the most susceptible breeds to suffer from the disease that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism in dogs is often caused by shrinkage or inflammation of the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck. The thyroid gland affects many parts of the body.
Two of the most common symptoms of the disease are chronic recurrent skin ailments or sudden unexplained weight gain. Dogs that have hypothyroidism often have thinning coats of hair that are dull.
Other less common symptoms include an inability to deal with cold temperatures and a reduced activity level. Ear infections, anemia, hyperpigmentation of the skin, a slow heart rate and high blood cholesterol can also be symptoms of the disease. Hypothyroidism can also cause weakness and regurgitation.
Fortunately, hypothyroidism is fairly easy to diagnose and there are several types of tests available. The veterinarian can determine if your dog has a thyroid problem with blood work that will check the level of the various hormones, which include T3 and T4, produced by the thyroid gland. The type of test ordered for your dog will depend on the symptoms and which are readily available to your dog’s vet. Most veterinarians will have to send the blood off to a lab for testing for thyroid hormones.
The baseline T4 test is one of the most common ones. Blood is drawn and tested to determine how much T4 thyroid hormone is in the dog’s bloodstream.
Another common test is the baseline T3 one that tests for levels of the T3 hormone in the bloodstream. This test is not as accurate as the T4 test in early cases of hypothyroidism.
In many cases, more than one test will be performed because there are other factors that can affect T3 and T4 levels.
Hypothyroidism is easily treated with a daily dose of a synthetic hormone called thyroxine. Several companies manufacture the drug. One common name is Soloxine. Once the dog begins to take thyroid medicine, he or she will need it the rest of their lives.
Dogs that are on thyroid medications should have blood samples drawn twice a year to check the T3 and T4 levels. Sometimes medication dosages will have to be adjusted.
If your dog takes thyroid medicine, make it your responsibility to schedule the recheck appointments. Don’t count on the dog’s vet to remind you. Failure to properly maintain the T3 and T4 levels can lead to serious health issues in later years. A simple blood test can keep this from taking place.
Once treatment is started, you should see an improvement in a month or so, especially with skin issues. Dogs suffering from hypothyroidism can lead normal, active lives.
Dogs rarely have overactive thyroid glands. When they do, cancer is often the cause.
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